Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday welcomed India’s stronger-than-expected economic growth and took an apparent swipe at the Opposition, referring to an “echo of lies” while highlighting the country’s 7.8% GDP expansion in the April-June quarter.
Speaking in a video message from Kyrgyzstan, where he is attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, Modi congratulated citizens and attributed the latest growth figures to their hard work and determination.
“7.8 per cent growth, the country is filled with happiness,” Modi said, adding that the figure reflected the “collective power” of Indians.
PM Modi attacks ‘jhooth ki goonj’
Modi said India had continued to grow despite global uncertainty, wars, disrupted supply chains and economic challenges.
“The world is drowned in war. There is news of war all around. The world is surrounded by crises. The supply chain is completely disturbed,” he said.
He then contrasted the global situation with what he described as negative messaging within India.
“On the other hand, inside India too, people drowned in the depths of despair are spreading jhooth ki goonj (echo of lies) all around,” Modi said.
His remarks appeared to allude to criticism surrounding Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ campaign. The phrase had also been used by the BJP while attacking Gandhi’s campaign.
India records 7.8% GDP growth
India’s economy grew 7.8% in the April-June quarter of fiscal 2026-27, according to data released on Monday.
The growth rate was higher than expected and exceeded the Reserve Bank of India’s forecast of 7% for the quarter. However, it was slower than the 8.6% growth recorded in the preceding quarter.
The latest figures came amid concerns that the conflict in the Middle East and resulting disruptions to global energy markets could weigh on India’s economic momentum.
Modi said maintaining the current growth trajectory would require continued collective effort.
“We have to maintain this pace,” he said.
Modi pushes ‘Swadeshi’ and ‘Vocal for Local’
The prime minister also urged Indians to embrace self-reliance by following the principles of ‘Swadeshi’ and ‘Vocal for Local’.
He encouraged citizens to choose domestic destinations for holidays and weddings and suggested avoiding unnecessary purchases of gold.
“If you go on holiday, go to a place in India. Wedding destinations can be in India. We should live the mantra of ‘wed in India’,” Modi said.
He added that greater emphasis on domestic products and services would strengthen India’s self-reliance.
Modi said he was confident that India would become a developed nation by the time the country reaches 100 years of independence.
India remains fastest-growing major economy
Despite the quarter-on-quarter slowdown, India’s 7.8% growth rate keeps it among the world’s fastest-growing major economies.
The latest performance also came against a challenging global backdrop, with geopolitical tensions, supply-chain disruptions and volatility in energy markets creating uncertainty for economies worldwide.
Modi’s remarks combined the latest economic data with a political message, as he called for sustained growth while urging citizens to support domestic consumption and self-reliance.
